Help & Advice

A common and very persistent myth about nursing your baby is that after breastfeeding, you’ll have sagging breasts. To seemingly no avail, nurses, doctors and lactation consultants, moms and breastfeeding advocates have been proclaiming for years that breastfeeding is NOT responsible for drooping, sagging, or flattened breasts.

Ladies, the proof is in and it’s time to “bust” this breastfeeding myth.

According to a new study, breastfeeding is not only NOT the ONLY cause of droopy breasts, it's not even A cause. (Sorry, I know that was a lot of double negatives, but read it out loud and it makes more sense.)

The study, which included interviews, assessments and photographs of 161 pairs of twins and their breasts, was conducted over a three-year period by Cleveland, Ohio plastic surgeon Hooman T. Soltanian of University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Among Dr. Soltanian's conclusions about what DOES contribute to sagging, droopy or deflated breasts:

Smoking

Drinking alcohol

Multiple pregnancies

Body mass index (BMI)

Bra size

What DOESN'T:

Breastfeeding

According to the news report on ABC's "Good Morning America:"

"The study seemed to refute myths about the negative effects of nursing a baby, findings that even surprised Soltanian. Even though the size and shape of the areola had suffered, the skin quality was better in women who breast fed."

In the sad-but-true category, it seems that pregnancy itself is what is partially responsible for the sagging and drooping you might notice after having a couple of kids.

The good news, however, for new moms concerned about having "pancake boobs" is that moisturizing your breasts daily was listed as a contributing factor in having the most attractive breasts.